A TRIO of clubs boast unbeaten starts in the Premier Division of the Cotswold Hills League but champions Bidford have made an embarrassing start to the defence of their title.

Stratford Bards, Kineton and Exhall and Wixford are the sides with two straight wins. The former seeing off Bidford by six wickets after the 2001 winners had rattled up a fine 218-9 at Alscot Park.

Kineton's 191-6 proved six too many for Overbury, while Exhall, who can inflict more misery on Bidford this weekend, had eight wickets to spare in pursuit of 165 against Twyning.

Bards and Kineton lock horns on Saturday when something has to give.

Elmley Castle openers Craig Sheward (92) and Robin Eaton (47) added 188 for the first wicket against Shipston, form whom Dave Murphy, 2-30 and 26 not out, was again in fine form.

Jon Walker grabbed 4-47 as Elmley scored 195-8 and then followed up with 75 as Shipston closed 11 runs short of their victory target.

Rowington and Tanworth have both won their opening two first division matches with the latter's eight-wicket defeat of fancied Alcester and Ragley the pick last weekend.

Shaun Quirke was dismissed one run short of a century, while Alcester skipper Nick Chadbourne hit 51 before the visitors raced to a surprisingly easy win.

Norton Lindsey had an easy win at Ashton, while another former top flight club, Broadway, were dismissed for 150 in pursuit of 216 for victory against the section's table toppers.

Moreton-in-Marsh look likely to get out of Division Two in a hurry after skittling Alveston for a paltry 54.

Henley-in-Arden and Chipping Camp-den are the two other sides with a brace of wins after successes against Stanway and Wellesbourne respectively.

Hockley Heath slumped to 32 all out as Warwick County Council won for the second successive Saturday to share the early billing in Division Three with Exhall and Wixford and Norton Lindsey.

Exhall were dominant with both bat and ball, blasting 272-4 against Rowington, who were sent packing for 76!

Bidford top Division Four after a 53-run defeat of Alcester and Ragley. John Rogers senior snr scored a fine century for the winners while Paul Hedges hit 94 for the Ragley Park outfit.

Kenilworth Wardens, narrow winners at Henley, in hot pursuit of the section leaders while the club's second string lost by eight wickets to Elmley Castle in Division Five where Great Alne and Bearley are setting the pace.

Elmley were indebted to fine spells with the ball by Mike Corbett (3-18) and Ray Brown (4-14) before Brain barber's unbeaten 54 steered the villagers to victory.

Eckington were comfortable eight-wicket winners at Tanworth despite an economical spell with the ball from Mahler, whose opening seven overs included six maidens.

However, Malcolm Cutler's unbeaten 60 guided the visitors home in the 38th over.

There was a thrilling finish at Claverdon where the hosts were bowled out just one run short of Mickleton's total of 192-8.

Newcomers Welford and Moreton-in-Marsh lead the way in Division Six. The former won at Leamington by 43 runs while the Batsford Road outfit had four wickets to spare in a successful chase to overhaul Ashorne's 140-9.

Sadly, Hockley Heath, again failed to fulfil their second team fixture.